Set-Top Box for Changing Channels and System and Method for Use of Same

ABSTRACT

A set-top box for changing channels and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the set-top box includes a network interface controller that is configured to receive a source internet protocol television signal, which includes two channels, from an external source and at least partially prepare the source internet protocol signal in order to forward the tuned signal to a television. The set-top box saves in a buffer the at least partially prepared second channel beginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal access point. In response to receiving a channel change instruction when the set-top box is forwarding the at least partially prepared first channel signal, the set-top box causes the television tuner to forward the at least partially prepared signal based on the second channel stored in the buffer beginning at the recent periodic, sequential signal access point.

PRIORITY STATEMENT

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/811,585, entitled “Set-Top Box for ChangingChannels and System and Method for Use of Same,” and filed on Jul. 28,2015, in the names of Raymond S. Horton et al.; which claims priorityfrom U.S. Patent Application No. 62/029,781, entitled “Set-Top Box forChanging Channels and System and Method for Use of Same” and filed onJul. 28, 2014, in the name of Vanessa Ogle. This application also claimspriority from U.S. Patent Application No. 62/371,486 entitled “Set-TopBox for Changing Channels and System and Method for Use of Same andfiled on Aug. 5, 2016, in the names of Raymond S. Horton et al.; all ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates, in general, to set-top boxes and, in particular,to set-top boxes for changing channels and systems and methods for useof the same that address the total duration of time from a channelchange button being pressed to the new channel being displayed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Without limiting the scope of the present invention, the background willbe described in relation to televisions in the hospitality lodgingindustry, as an example. “Zap time” is the total duration of time from atelevision viewer pressing the channel change button, to the picture ofthe new channel being displayed with full resolution, along withcorresponding audio. Zap time delays exist in all television systems,due to network factors, acquisition factors and buffering/decoding, forexample. Zap time is greater in digital televisions, however, which arevery common in hotels and other hospitality lodging establishments. As aresult of limitations in existing technology, zap time is a frequentcomplaint and source of aggravation by guests staying in hospitalitylodging establishments. Accordingly, there is a need for improvedsystems and methods for mitigating zap time delays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It would be advantageous to reduce zap time in hospitality lodgingestablishments as well as any television viewing environment. It wouldalso be desirable to enable a computer-based solution that wouldmitigate tuning-related factors, such as buffering and decryptiondelays. To better address one or more of these concerns, a set-top boxfor changing channels and systems and methods for use of the same aredisclosed. In one embodiment, the set-top box includes a networkinterface controller that is configured to receive a source internetprotocol television signal, which includes at least first and secondchannels, from an external source and at least partially prepare thesource internet protocol signal in order to forward the tuned signal toa television. Within the set-top box, memory is accessible to theprocessor such that processor-executable instructions, when executed,cause the processor to save in a buffer the at least partially preparedsecond channel beginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal accesspoint. In response to receiving a channel change instruction when theset-top box is forwarding the at least partially prepared first channelsignal, the set-top box causes the television tuner to forward the atleast partially prepared signal based on the second channel stored inthe buffer beginning at the recent periodic, sequential signal accesspoint. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent fromand elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of thepresent invention, reference is now made to the detailed description ofthe invention along with the accompanying figures in which correspondingnumerals in the different figures refer to corresponding parts and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is schematic diagram depicting one embodiment of a system forchanging channels on a television according to the teachings presentedherein;

FIG. 2A is a front elevation view of one embodiment of a set-top boxdepicted in FIG. 1 in further detail;

FIG. 2B is a rear elevation view of the set-top box depicted in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram depicting one embodiment of theset-top box presented in FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIG. 4A is a functional block diagram depicting one embodiment of achannel change operation, prior to the channel change;

FIG. 4B is a functional block diagram depicting the channel changeoperation presented in FIG. 4A, at the channel change;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram depicting one embodiment of thesignal processing and storage allocation accompanying the changeoperation presented in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting one embodiment of a method for changingchannels according to the teachings presented herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the making and using of various embodiments of the presentinvention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated thatthe present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts, whichcan be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways tomake and use the invention, and do not delimit the scope of the presentinvention.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, therein is depicted one embodiment ofsystem for changing channels, which is schematically illustrated anddesignated 10. As shown, the system 10 includes a set-top box 12 and adisplay illustrated as television 14 having a screen 16. A connection,which is depicted as an HDMI connection 20, connects the set-top box 12to the television 14. Other connections include a power cable 22coupling the set-top box 12 to a power source, a coaxial cable 24coupling the set-top box 12 to external cable source, and a categoryfive (Cat 5) cable 26 coupling the set-top box 12 to an external sourcethat is a source internet protocol television signal including multiplechannels. It should be appreciated that the cabling connected to theset-top box will depend on the environment and application and thecabling connections presented in FIG. 1 are depicted for illustrativepurposes. Further, it should be appreciated that the positioning of theset-top box 12 will vary depending on environment and application and,with certain functionality, the set-top box 12 may be placed morediscretely behind the television 14.

A television remote control 30 includes an array of buttons 32 foradjusting various settings such as television channel and volume. Amongthe array of buttons 32, the television remote control 30 is depicted asincluding channel change buttons 34, up channel change button 36, and adown channel change button 38. In one embodiment, the television remotecontrol 30 may be a consumer infrared (IR) or other protocol, such asBluetooth device configured as a small wireless handheld object thatissues commands from a distance to the set-top box 12 in order tocontrol the television 14 via the set-top box 12, for example.

In one implementation, as illustrated, channel 403, as indicated by C2,is broadcasting a program, as indicated by P1, and this program P1 is onthe screen 16 of the television 14. A user presses the up channel changebutton 36 on the television remote control 30 and a signal S, whichincludes instructions for the channel C2 to be changed one channelupward, is transmitted from the television remote control 30 to theset-top box 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the channel is changed from channel403 to channel 404, as indicated by C3, with program P2. The channelchange occurs in substantially real time with zap time being mitigated,as will be discussed in further detail hereinbelow. In one embodiment,the set-top box provides two-way communications with an internetprotocol network to buffer and decode video streaming media received onthe internet protocol television signal so that zap time is mitigated.

Referring to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 3, as used herein, set-topboxes, back boxes and set-top/back boxes may be discussed set-top backboxes. By way of example, the set-top box 12 may be a set-top unit thatis an information appliance device that generally contains set-top boxfunctionality including having a television input via a two-waycommunication at a network interface controller with an internetprotocol network and displays output through a connection to a displayor television set and an external source of signal, turning by way ofsignal preparation the source signal into content in a form that canthen be displayed on the television screen or other display device. Suchset-top boxes are used in cable television, satellite television, andover-the-air television systems, for example.

The set-top box 12 includes a housing 50 having a rear wall 52, frontwall 54, top wall 56, bottom base 58, and two sidewalls 60, 62. Itshould be appreciated that front wall, rear wall, and side wall arerelative terms used for descriptive purposes and the orientation and thenomenclature of the walls may vary depending on application. The frontwall includes various ports, ports 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, and80 that provide interfaces for various interfaces, including inputs andoutputs. In one implementation, as illustrated, the ports 64 through 80include inputs 82 and outputs 84 and, more particularly, an RF input 86,a RJ-45 input 88, universal serial bus (USB) input/outputs 90, anEthernet category 5 (Cat 5) coupling 92, an internal reset 94, an RS232control 96, an audio out 98, an audio in 100, and a debug/maintenanceport 102. The front wall 54 also includes various inputs 82 and outputs84. More particularly, ports 110, 112, 114, and 116 include a 5V dcpower connection 120, USB inputs/outputs 122, an RJ-45 coupling 124, andan HDMI port 126. It should be appreciated that the configuration ofports may vary with the set-top box depending on application andcontext.

Within the housing 50, a processor 130, memory 132, storage 134, theinputs 82, and the outputs 84 are interconnected by a bus architecture136 within a mounting architecture. The processor 130 may processinstructions for execution within the computing device, includinginstructions stored in the memory 132 or in storage 134. The memory 132stores information within the computing device. In one implementation,the memory 132 is a volatile memory unit or units. In anotherimplementation, the memory 132 is a non-volatile memory unit or units.Storage 134 provides capacity that is capable of providing mass storagefor the set-top box 12. Various inputs 82 and outputs 84 provideconnections to and from the computing device, wherein the inputs 82 arethe signals or data received by the set-top box 12, and the outputs 84are the signals or data sent from the set-top box 12.

A network interface controller 138 and a television output 139 are alsosecured in the housing 50 in order to receive content from a source inthe hospitality property and forward the content, including externalcontent such video on demand, live programming content, and pre-bufferedcontent, to the television located within the hotel room. Morespecifically, the network interface controller 138 receives a sourceinternet protocol television signal from an external source. The sourcesignal includes multiple channels and each of the multiple channels hasperiodic, sequential signal access points that permit tuning initiation.The network interface controller 138 is configured to receive and tunemultiple channels from the source internet protocol television signal.As shown, the network interface controller 138 includes network trafficprocessing 140, interrupts/interfaces 142 and receivingtransmission/queues 144. The network controller interface 138 implementsthe electronic circuitry required to communicate using a specificphysical layer and data link layer standard. This provides a base for afull network protocol stack with network traffic processingcapabilities, allowing communication with computers or servers on alocal area network or large-scale network communications throughroutable protocols, such as Internet Protocol (IP). The networkinterface controller may enable communication, either by using cables orwirelessly.

A content buffer 146 associated with a decryption device 148 and adecoder 150 is also included in order to provide at least a partiallyprepared channel. The contact buffer 146 stores the signal and may beindependent storage or associated with or form a portion of the memory132 or storage 134. In one embodiment, the content buffer 146 may be afirst-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer, having one per tuner, in the memory.The content buffer 146 may hold at least one access point for theincurring signal streams when the buffer is assigned to the correctviewing channel, the processor may quickly jump to the access point inthe buffer and start the content decryption and decoding process. Thedecryption device 148 then decrypts the demodulated signal beforedecoding at the decoder 150. It should be appreciated that although aparticular architecture of network interface controller 138, decryptiondevice and decoder is depicted, other architectures are within theteachings presented herein.

A transceiver 152 is associated with the set-top box 12 andcommunicatively disposed with the bus 136. As shown the transceiver maybe internal, external, or a combination thereof to the housing. Further,the transceiver 152 may be a transmitter/receiver, receiver, or anantenna for example. Communication between various amenities in thehotel room and the set-top box 12 may be enabled by a variety ofwireless methodologies employed by the transceiver 152, including802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC),Bluetooth low energy and Bluetooth, for example. Also, infrared (IR) maybe utilized.

The memory 132 and storage 134 are accessible to the processor 130 andinclude processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause theprocessor 130 to execute a series of operations. In one embodiment, theprocessor-executable instructions dynamically assign each of thereceiving queues (e.g., receiving queue-1 through receiving queue-n) toone of channels. An associated content buffer 146 (e.g., contentbuffer-1 through content-buffer-n) may likewise also be assigned to oneof the channels. The processor-executable instructions provide two-waycommunications with the internet protocol network communicating with thenetwork interface controller 138 and decode the video streaming mediareceived on the internet protocol television signal. Theprocessor-executable instructions buffer in the content buffer 146 theat least partially prepared second channel signal and track in thecontent buffer 146 the at least partially prepared second channel signalbeginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal access point. Inresponse to receiving a channel change instruction, the buffer isaccessed to the at least partially prepared second channel signalbeginning at the recent periodic, sequential signal access point. Theprocessor-executable instructions then transform the partially preparedsecond channel signal to a fully prepared second channel signal andforward, via the television output, the fully prepared second channelsignal. Transforming or processing the at least partially preparedchannel to be a fully tuned channel may involve use of the decryptiondevice 148 and the decoder 150, for example.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, wherein one embodiment of a channelchange operation is depicted in additional detail. As shown, in FIG. 4A,channel assignments 154 are made for each receiving queue 144 associatedwith the network interface controller 138, including NIC-RQ1 (144-1),NIC-RQ2 (144-2), NIC-RQ3 (144-3), through NIC-RQn (144-n). Morespecifically, the receiving queues 144-1 through 144-n are assignedchannels 402, 403, 404, and 520, respectively. It should be appreciatedthat the number of channels m may be much greater than the number ofreceiving queues n, such that m>>n. Further, each receiving queue 144 isassigned a buffer portion 146-1, 146-2, 146-3, through 146-n, of contentbuffer 146. As each tuner receives a channel of the source signal, thechannel is at least partially tuned and stored at the respective bufferportion. By way of example, receiving queue-1 is tuned to channel 402and partially prepares this channel and stores the at least partiallyprepared channel in buffer portion 1.

As depicted, the television 14 is presently configured for viewingchannel 403. At FIG. 4B, the channel is changed from “403” to “404” and,accordingly, the at least partially prepared channel at the bufferportion associated with tuner 3, which is assigned to channel 404 isaccessed. The signal is then at least partially prepared or fullyprepared and provided to the television 14. By having the channelalready partially prepared, the zap time or delay associated withchanging channels is minimized.

Referring now to FIG. 5, wherein one embodiment of the signal processingand storage allocation accompanying the change operation presented inFIG. 4A and FIG. 4B is further illustrated. A signal 160, whichcorresponds to channel 404, is receivable by the set-top box and, asshown, begins at time to and continues to time t_(n). As illustrated,receiving queue 3 receives signal 160 beginning at time t₄ upon thetelevision tuning capability being turned ON at the set-top box ortelevision, for example. Periodic, sequential signal access points arepositioned within the signal 160 at various times, including t₂, t₈,t₁₄, t₂₀, t₂₆, t₃₂, and continuing with the spacing of 6 secondincrements between sequential signal access points. As alluded, each ofthe periodic, sequential signal access points provides a location atwhich processing and preparation of the signal may begin. Processing andpreparation may include receiving, buffering, decryption, and decoding,for example.

With respect to the signal 160, beginning at time to with the sequentialsignal access point thereat, the set-top box buffers in the bufferportion 3 the at least partially tuned channel 160 as signal portion 162in the buffer portion 3. As shown, in one embodiment, the buffering ofthe signals occurs in a first-in-first-out (FIFO) manner. As previouslydiscussed, buffer portion 3 continues to keep signal portions, includingtacking and identification thereof, beginning at periodic, sequentialsignal access points until the channel 404 is selected for viewing. Byway of example, buffer portion 3 stores a signal portion 164 beginningat time t₁₄ and continuing until time t₁₉. Further, signal portion 166is stored in buffer portion 3 beginning with the sequential signalaccess point at time t₂₀ and preliminary preparation performed on thesignal portion 166.

The set-top box tracks in the storage and buffering the at leastpartially prepared channel 160 beginning at a recent periodic,sequential signal access point, such as periodic sequential signalaccess points t₈, t₁₄, and t₂₀, with the periodic sequential signalaccess point t₂₀ being the recent periodic sequential signal accesspoint upon the set-top box receiving a signal to tune-in to the channelrepresented by the signal 160 at time t₂₄. At time t₂₄, the set-top boxin response to receiving a channel change instruction, accesses from thebuffer portion 3 the at least partially tuned channel 160 beginning atthe recent periodic, sequential signal access point at time t₂₀.Thereafter, the set-top box transforms the partially tuned channel 160to a fully tuned channel signal and forwards, via the television output,the fully tuned channel signal to the television.

That is, in the illustrated embodiment, at time t₂₄ the set-top box istuned-in to channel 404. Thereafter, the set-top box accesses the signalportion 166 stored in buffer portion 3 that the set-top box wastracking. At the time t₂₄, the set-top box retrieves the partiallyprepared signal at time t₂₀ in the buffer portion 3 and completes thetuning. The set-top box then forwards the fully prepared signalbeginning at time t₂₀ to the display or television. The set-top boxcontinues to receive and perform a preliminary signal preparation on thesignal 160, with storage and buffering of signal portion 166. Further,the set-top box continues to retrieve, perform a secondary signalpreparation on the signal portion, and forward the fully prepared signalthrough time t₄₂, which corresponds to time t₃₈ in the signal portion166. At time t₄₂, channel 404 is tuned-out, due to a channel change orother event, as indicated by line 176.

As shown, at time t₄₃, the buffer portion is assigned to channel 406 andsignal 168 is received. Within the signal 168, signal access points areat times t₄₃, t₄₇, t₅₃, t₅₉ and so on. Accordingly, signal portions 170,172, and 174 are sequentially stored, buffered, and preliminary preparedat signal portion 3 in preparation for channel 406 being accessed forviewing by the set-top box. It should be appreciated that although onlya single buffer portion is depicted in FIG. 5, multiple buffer portionsare within the teachings presented herein and the assignment of channelsto the buffer portions may be based various schemes, including storingand pre-preparing the channel corresponding to the “channel-up” button,the “channel-down” button, a channel two “channel-up” button executionsaway, or a frequently viewed channel, by way of example.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a method for changing channelsaccording to the teachings presented herein. At block 200, channelassignments are made to buffer portions of the set-top box. Continuingthe description of the methodology with respect to a single channelassignment made to a buffer portion of the set-top box, at block 202,the set-top box receives a signal that is assigned for storage andbuffer per block 200. At this step, some preparation or processing mayoccur as well. At decision block 204, if the portion of the signalreceived is not a signal access point, then at block 206, the signal isdiscarded and the methodology returns to block 202. On the other hand,if the portion of the signal received includes a signal access point,then the methodology advances to block 208 where initial signalpreparation, including primary preparation of the signal may occur. Inone implementation, the primary preparation may include a portion ofreceiving, demodulation, decryption, and decoding. Following the primarypreparation, the portion of the signal is buffered in the storage atblock 210.

At decision block 212, if the channel is not selected for viewing on thetelevision or display associated with the set-top box, then themethodology advances to decision block 214, where if the storage portionis assigned a new channel, the method returns to block 200. Otherwise,if the storage has not been reassigned a channel, the methodologyadvances to block 216 where additional signal is received and, if thesignal is a signal access point, as shown at decision block 218, then atblock 220, the previously stored signal portion associated with thepreviously most recent signal access point is subject to an overwriteprior to the methodology returning to block 208 to conduct a primarytuning on the signal access point prior to storage.

Returning to decision block 218, if the signal portion received is not asignal access point, then the methodology returns to blocks 208 and 210to execute primary preparation on the signal portion and store the newlyreceived signal portion with previously received the signal portion orportions associated with the recent signal access point.

Returning to decision block 212, if the channel is selected for displayon the television associated with the set-top box, then the methodologyadvances to two processes conducted in parallel. First, at block 224,the signal is retrieved from buffering so that signal preparation may becompleted, including secondary preparation occurring at block 226following by forwarding of the signal to the television or display atblock 228. In one implementation, the secondary preparation may includethe portion of receiving, demodulation, decryption, and decoding notperformed during the primary tuning. By retrieving utilizing a partiallyprepared signal to complete tuning, delays associated with zap time aremitigated. In one embodiment, receiving queues and content buffers notused by the viewing channels are fully prepared and receivingdemodulated video and audio streamed. The processor continuously tracksthe location of each access point in each buffer. In thisimplementation, decryption does not occur until the content buffer isassigned as the viewing channel.

In parallel to the operations in blocks 224, 226, and 228, at blocks230, 232, and 234, a signal is received, primary signal preparationoccurs, and the signal is buffered. Following the operations in blocks224-228 and blocks 230-234, the methodology advances to decision block236, where if the channel remains selected, the methodology returns toblocks 224-228 and blocks 230-234. Otherwise, the methodology returns tothe channel assignment at block 200.

The order of execution or performance of the methods and data flowsillustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwisespecified. That is, elements of the methods and data flows may beperformed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and that the methodsmay include more or less elements than those disclosed herein. Forexample, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particularelement before, contemporaneously with, or after another element are allpossible sequences of execution.

While this invention has been described with reference to illustrativeembodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in alimiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of theillustrative embodiments as well as other embodiments of the invention,will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to thedescription. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claimsencompass any such modifications or embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A set-top box for changing channels comprising: ahousing securing a television output, a processor, memory, buffer, and anetwork interface controller therein; a busing architecturecommunicatively interconnecting the television output, the processor,the memory, the buffer, and the network interface controllertherebetween; the network interface controller configured to receive asource internet protocol television signal from an external source, thesource internet protocol television signal including a plurality ofchannels, each of the plurality of channels having periodic, sequentialsignal access points that permit tuning initiation; the televisionoutput configured to forward a fully prepared signal to a television;the network interface controller configured to receive and at leastpartially prepare a first channel from the source internet protocoltelevision signal, the network interface controller providing an atleast partially prepared first channel signal; the network interfacecontroller configured to receive and at least partially prepare a secondchannel from the source internet protocol television signal, the networkinterface controller providing an at least partially prepared secondchannel signal; and the memory accessible to the processor, the memoryincluding processor-executable instructions that, when executed, causethe processor to: buffer in the buffer the at least partially preparedsecond channel signal, track in the buffer the at least partiallyprepared second channel signal beginning at a recent periodic,sequential signal access point, in response to receiving a channelchange instruction, access from the buffer the at least partiallyprepared second channel signal beginning at the recent periodic,sequential signal access point, transform the partially prepared secondchannel signal to a fully prepared second channel signal, and forward,via the television output, the fully prepared second channel signal. 2.The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least partiallyprepared second channel signal comprises a fully prepared second channelsignal.
 3. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the networkinterface controller further comprises circuitry providing a fullnetwork protocol stack with network traffic processing capabilities. 4.The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the internet protocoltelevision signal further comprises an internet protocol suite over apacket-switched network.
 5. The set-top box as recited in claim 1,wherein prior to the set-top box receiving the channel changeinstruction, the television output forwards the prepared first channel.6. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the first channelcomprises video on demand.
 7. The set-top box as recited in claim 1,wherein the first channel comprises live programming content.
 8. Theset-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the first channel comprisespre-buffered content.
 9. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, whereinthe network interface controller is dynamically assigned a channel. 10.The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the network interfacecontroller is assigned a channel one channel up from the first channel.11. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the network interfacecontroller is assigned a channel frequently tuned.
 12. The set-top boxas recited in claim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructions totrack in the buffer the prepared second channel beginning at the recent,periodic, sequential signal access point further comprises causing theprocessor to track in the buffer the prepared second channel beginningat the most recent sequential signal access point.
 13. The set-top boxas recited in claim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructions totrack in the buffer the prepared second channel beginning at the recent,periodic, sequential signal access point further comprises causing theprocessor to: track in the buffer the prepared second channel beginningat a first periodic, sequential signal access point; and track in thebuffer the prepared second channel beginning at a second periodic,sequential signal access point, the second periodic, sequential signalaccess point being subsequent in time to the first periodic, sequentialsignal access point.
 14. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, whereinthe processor-executable instructions to track in the buffer theprepared second channel beginning at the recent, periodic, sequentialsignal access point further comprises causing the processor to: makeavailable for deletion the portion of the buffered prepared secondchannel in the buffer previous to the most recent periodic, sequentialsignal access point.
 15. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, whereinthe processor-executable instructions to track in the buffer theprepared second channel beginning at the recent, periodic, sequentialsignal access point further comprises causing the processor to: makeavailable for over-write the portion of the buffered prepared secondchannel in the buffer previous to the most recent periodic, sequentialsignal access point.
 16. A set-top box for changing channels comprising:a housing securing a television output, a processor, memory, buffer, anda network interface controller therein; a busing architecturecommunicatively interconnecting the television output, the processor,the memory, the buffer, and the network interface controllertherebetween; the network interface controller configured to receive asource internet protocol television signal from an external source, thesource internet protocol television signal including a plurality ofchannels, each of the plurality of channels having periodic, sequentialsignal access points that permit tuning initiation; the internetprotocol television signal including an internet protocol suite over apacket-switched network; the network interface controller includingcircuitry providing a full network protocol stack with network trafficprocessing capabilities; the television output configured to forward afully prepared signal to a television; the network interface controllerconfigured to receive and at least partially prepare a first channelfrom the source internet protocol television signal, the networkinterface controller providing an at least partially prepared firstchannel signal; the network interface controller configured to receiveand at least partially prepare a second channel from the source internetprotocol television signal, the network interface controller providingan at least partially prepared second channel signal; and the memoryaccessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executableinstructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: buffer in thebuffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal, track inthe buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signalbeginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal access point, inresponse to receiving a channel change instruction, access from thebuffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal beginningat the recent periodic, sequential signal access point, transform thepartially prepared second channel signal to a fully prepared secondchannel signal, and forward, via the television output, the fullyprepared second channel signal.
 17. The set-top box as recited in claim16, wherein the at least partially prepared second channel signalcomprises a fully prepared second channel signal.
 18. The set-top box asrecited in claim 16, wherein the first channel comprises a selectionfrom the group consisting of video on demand, live programming content,and pre-buffered content.
 19. A set-top box for changing channelscomprising: a housing securing a television output, a processor, memory,buffer, and a network interface controller therein; a busingarchitecture communicatively interconnecting the television output, theprocessor, the memory, the buffer, and the network interface controllertherebetween; the network interface controller configured to receive asource internet protocol television signal from an external source asvideo streaming media, the source internet protocol television signalincluding a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channelshaving periodic, sequential signal access points that permit tuninginitiation; the internet protocol television signal including aninternet protocol suite over a packet-switched network; the networkinterface controller including circuitry providing a full networkprotocol stack with network traffic processing capabilities; thetelevision output configured to forward a fully prepared signal to atelevision; the network interface controller configured to receive andat least partially prepare a first channel from the source internetprotocol television signal, the network interface controller providingan at least partially prepared first channel signal; the networkinterface controller configured to receive and at least partiallyprepare a second channel from the source internet protocol televisionsignal, the network interface controller providing an at least partiallyprepared second channel signal; and the memory accessible to theprocessor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that,when executed, cause the processor to: provide two-way communicationswith an internet protocol network communicating with the networkinterface controller, decode the video streaming media received on theinternet protocol television signal, buffer in the buffer the at leastpartially prepared second channel signal, track in the buffer the atleast partially prepared second channel signal beginning at a recentperiodic, sequential signal access point, in response to receiving achannel change instruction, access from the buffer the at leastpartially prepared second channel signal beginning at the recentperiodic, sequential signal access point, transform the partiallyprepared second channel signal to a fully prepared second channelsignal, and forward, via the television output, the fully preparedsecond channel signal.
 20. The set-top box as recited in claim 19,wherein the video streaming media comprises a selection from the groupconsisting of video on demand, live programming content, andpre-buffered content.